Safety

Innovations

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta developed and implemented a program to reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in three intensive care units, including two pediatric intensive care units and one cardiac intensive care unit. The program adapts a bundle of evidence-based interventions commonly used to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in adults to the pediatric population.

Using interactive videoconferencing, the University of California at Davis provides 24-hour child abuse evaluation and consultation services to underserved rural areas and also provides monthly child abuse training to health care providers in these areas.

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute uses safety rounds with staff and patients, supported by a toolkit, to promote a culture of safety and reduce medical errors by proactively identifying and addressing potential safety problems.

Marquette University College of Nursing runs a 1-year residency program for first-year nurses at 53 Wisconsin hospitals. Known as the Wisconsin Nurse Residency Program, the initiative is intended to help first-year nurses better adjust to their new careers. The junior nurses are paired with veteran nurses who provide clinical coaching on the job; they also attend monthly 6.5-hour classes on critical issues and follow a professional development plan tailored to their needs.

Exempla Lutheran Medical Center used principles adopted from the Lean method of the Toyota Production System to improve patient safety and the overall functioning of the operating room by reducing foot traffic into and out of the surgical suite.